Meg Ryan Steps Back Into the Spotlight
Let’s talk about Meg Ryan. You remember her, right? The queen of romantic comedies who brought us iconic films like When Harry Met Sally… and Sleepless in Seattle. Well, she’s making a comeback, and this time, it’s personal. On November 3, her first film in eight years, What Happens Later, hits theaters. But here’s the kicker—this isn’t just any movie. Meg cowrote, directed, and stars in it. Talk about a triple threat! In the film, she plays Willa, a woman who gets stranded at an airport overnight with her ex-lover, played by none other than David Duchovny. As fate would have it, their decades-old connection comes roaring back to life. “It has a vibe reminiscent of classic movies from the ’40s, like Bringing Up Baby, with all that witty banter,” Meg explains. “But here’s the twist—it’s about older people, and guess what? It’s still romantic and sexy!”
A New Era for the Rom-Com Queen
Now, let’s rewind a bit. Meg Ryan was once synonymous with romantic comedies, but over the years, she stepped away from the spotlight to focus on what truly mattered to her. At 61, she’s a divorced mom of two and an empty nester. She broke off her engagement to rocker John Mellencamp, packed up her life, and moved to Los Angeles. And you know what? She’s happier than ever. “She’s at a point in her life where she wants to tell stories that resonate with her and women her age,” says a close friend. “She’s embracing this new chapter with open arms.” Meg isn’t just returning to the genre that made her famous; she’s reinventing it.
From Rom-Coms to Real Life
Back in the ’90s, people started labeling Meg as the "romantic comedy queen." But let’s be real—Meg’s talents extend far beyond that. She took on dramatic roles in films like Courage Under Fire, proving she could handle serious material. But after her 2001 divorce from Dennis Quaid, Hollywood took a backseat. Raising her son, Jack, now 31, and daughter, Daisy, 19, became her priority. “Above everything else, my kids’ happiness is what matters most to me,” Meg says. “That’s always been my focus.” And who could blame her? Family comes first, right?
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Rediscovering Happiness and Love
In 2019, Meg ended her decade-long, on-and-off relationship with John Mellencamp. Let’s just say, John isn’t the easiest guy to be around, and even he’d probably admit that. “They had a deep connection, but in the end, Meg wasn’t willing to sacrifice her happiness for the relationship,” a friend reveals. And while she’s single now, Meg’s not ruling out love in the future. “She’s open to it, but right now, she’s all about enjoying herself,” says the friend. Sounds like a plan to me!
A New Project, A Fresh Perspective
Meg’s also diving headfirst into her passion for filmmaking. While she directed Ithaca, a WWII coming-of-age story, in 2015, it wasn’t until her daughter Daisy was set to graduate that Meg fully reimmersed herself in her career. What Happens Later was the perfect project at the perfect time. “The story revolves around forgiveness—how we learn to forgive ourselves and others,” Meg shares. During the pandemic, while working on the script, Meg found herself reflecting on the state of the world. “It’s about opposites—Willa’s a dreamer, while Bill’s a realist—but at its core, the movie pushes the boundaries of the traditional rom-com genre,” she explains.
And Meg’s not stopping here. She’s eager to direct again and take on more roles. “I hadn’t acted in a long time, but working with David Duchovny was a blast. We did a lot of scenes in two shots, and I’m really proud of how it turned out,” she says. Looks like Meg Ryan’s back, and she’s here to stay.
